Well after months of tests the vets have said my poor lucy has renal failure and things have gone down hill so fast over the past week.
Originally they thought it was addison, but when doing further tests they found all the tests were showing renal failure.  I've done everything I possible can to help her.  They have told me now the end is very near.  On saturday she collasped and was rushed in and put on a drip to get fluids in her.  It's so sad to see her like this.

So sorry to hear this, love and hugs to you both.........
Karenxx

How sad for you all :(

:(
very sorry to hear this reesy

{{hugs}}

Thinking of you all. Take care xxx

Very hard trying to get her to eat.  Just tried salmon and pasta, she's tried a little.  Fingers crossed she will keep this down.  Can anyone suggest any food I can try and tempt her? 

Try some coley. It was the only thing I could get mine to eat in the end. Has the vet given you any anti-sickeness pills? What tablets is your dog on?

You could try some tripe. PAH sell the frozen blocks of tripe. Tinned pilchards might also tempt her - I feed the ones in tomato sauce and my dog loves them. Hopefully she will be tempted by one of these.

I've tried lots of different fish and she eats a very small amount and leaves it.  It breaks my heart to see her like this

Sorry, can only add what other people have suggested. I have only come on to say my heart goes out to you over Lucy. Keep strong.

The vet advised me the end is very near.  She is my husbands boxer and he is away with the ta until Saturday.  I have told him how badly she has gone down hill and he is heart broken, he fears she will go before he gets back.  I'm giving allsorts of meds at the moment but i feel so cruel seeing her in this condition. 

Have you tried tinned chappie?
I know it sounds daft but what about tinned/pouches cat food?
There's also yoghurt/cottage cheese some dogs love it.
Also sometimes heating the food up makes it smell more appealing.

My heart really does go out to you.
It might be worth reporting to the Breed Health Committee especially if she's
young, as in the US there seems to be a high number of dogs with kidney problems within
certain families and they are researching into it. I'ts been reported alot on the USA listing Showboxerlist,
they ask for DNA samples etc.

Hugs, thinking of you
Kirstine and Boxers

been told to keep her protein levels down, she's 6 years old which I class as being young.  I've tried everything to get her to eat.  If she does eat it doesn't stay down for long due to the acid build up.  The vets have given me zantac for this, but they aren't helping much.

Reesy - If it were me and in view of the vet advising that your time with her is limited I personally wouldn't worry too much about the level of protein she is getting. I would view it as whatever I could get her to eat is going to be better than her not eating at all and be aiming at making her time with you as comfortable as possible.

Really sorry that you are in such a difficult situation :(

I too thought along those lines.  But what made me re-think was the amount of acid in her poor tum and her being sick. 

I am no expert at all on anything medical but would have thought that the acid is there anyway so if she manages to eat something then it would probably have a diluting effect as the acid will have something to work on rather than her empty stomach.

Other foods to try are yoghurt, scrambled egg, mashed potato - literally just potatoes mashed up with no milk or butter added and feed them in tiny amounts so her tum isn't overloaded especially as she hasn't eaten for a while.

she was eating scrambled egg again this was coming up, then she stop eating it.  Tried potatoes she didn't even bother when them.  It's so hard.  What I've been trying to do is tempt her with a variation off things.  Poor little soal.

Could you offer her some soup?  Make a vegetable stock type soup, no added salts or proteins.  It's important to get her and keep her hydrated.

Although I'm inclined to agree with Harley that at this stage it's perhaps the lesser evil to be overly concerned with food type rather than simply ensure that she takes some nourishment which in turn should hopefully ease the symptoms of excess acid.

I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this with your girl.

Good luck and God bless you both,  Teri x

chappie (tinned, the chicken variety) is only 5.5% protein.
Could always warm it in the microwave to make it more appealing.

Yes six is only middle aged for a Boxer average age should be 10yo.

I'm so sorry to read all this Reesy :(  What a terrible time you're going through. Do you maybe think you should just let her go peacefully, she sounds like she isn't enjoying life much - and prolonging this is upsetting you both. It may even be easier for your hubby to know she went peacefully instead of seeing her in this state. I'm sorry to be so blunt, and of course it is your decision and I really feel for you.

This may sound really cruel.  I have been trying to keep her going so my husband could say goodbye.  I't will break my heart letting her go, I am taking her to the vets on Monday, my husband is back tomorrow.  so he will get to spend some time with her then.  I bet i sound really horrible, it's not a easy thing to do.

Sometimes we have to make decisions that break our hearts. The bottom line is that you must put your dog first and if that means calling it a day today,tomorrow or the next day then do what is right for the dog. If your dog has stopped eating altogether, then she is telling you she has had enough. They get to the point where they won't eat no matter what you try to tempt them with. It is a terrible decision but one that many of us have had to make. It never gets any easier, but the dog must come first above all else.

I am so sorry to hear about your boxer. I know how you feel as I went through it with a OES . She was diagnosed in August and I lost her in September (she was only two) What I will say from my experience is that I kept her going too long. She wasn't happy and I went to see the vets to see if it was 'time'. The vet and I discussed it and as it was my son's birthday the next day I thought I would keep her until after so I wouldn't ruin his birthday (she was his dog). That night she was in great distress, she couldn't settle because of the pain and when I called for the vet to do the deed, unfortunately the vet had been called out. The vet eventually came and put her 'to sleep' later. To this day this situation haunts me and when another of my dogs had a stroke (she was 13 1/2) I had a choice of-: having further tests done, taking her home and see what she was like in 24 hours or have her PTS. I chose PTS as I rather it was a week early than a day late (her outlook wasn't good)
So I would say if your bitch isn't eating and is in discomfort don't keep her going, do the right thing by her and ease  her suffering.
My thoughts are with you.

Sorry to hear about your dog, it`s a heartbreaking decision you have to make, hope you find the courage to do whats best for the dog :(

You might find something to tempt her with at the link below.

http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html#diet

I lost my foundation bitch with acute kidney failure at 13 1/2.  She collapsed one day, (had seen signs o f excess drinking and dilute urination for a few weeks). 

The next day she was still too weak to get about and I took her straight to the Vet to be Put to sleep (she had to be carried). 

The Vet confirmed the diagnosis, and I felt it was not right to eeek out her life just to have a few miserable days - weeks extra with her.

Dogs are usually very stoic until things overwhelm them.

This was confirmed for me recently with my 3 year old bitch who had a serious ear infection, but showed no obvious outward signs, the only clue was dark ear wax and her ear smelling doggy which they don't normally.

Trying to have the ear examined with an auroscope had her screaming in pain.

The saying better a day too soon than a day too late is one I will endeavour to remember.

We made the hardest decision ever and have our beloved Lucy put to sleep on Wednesday.  I have never cried so much and feel I have lost a part of me.
I know I've made the right decision, she couldn't have gone on any longer, even though I think she would have just to please me.
I had a card from the vets today saying how sorry they were, it said Lucy was a beautiful dog that always had a lick and waggy body for everyone.  She was a very sick dog but would have done anything to be with us.
I miss her so much.

Ohh I'm so sorry for your loss, having gone through the same thing last year with my older Newfie...at least you have done absolutely everything you could have done, and gave her a peaceful, love filled end. This is the hardest part about owning our lovely animals and friends, I hope you find some peace soon, run free sweet Lucy!

At least you know that your dog's suffering has ended - it is always so hard to say goodbye to our loved ones. Hopefully the painful memories will soon be replaced by all those happy ones that you shared.

So sorry. Run free Lucy. xxx

Run Free Lucy :)
You did the best for her and she knows that.
Lea.

I know I did everything I could have but it's so hard.  I can't even look at a photo of her.  The only comfort i have is knowing she is in no more pain.

So sorry for your loss.... Lucy was a very lucky girl having you for her Mum x

So sorry to hear this but you know you made the right decision and that is because you cared for her so much.